A Yard Goes From Dirt Patch to Perennial Paradise

Friends may wonder how Joyce could look any harder than she already has. Since her first attempt at bringing the then-desolate yard to life 12 years ago, when she planted 70 daylilies passed along by a friend, Joyce has managed to pack trees, perennials, and annuals into every available inch. "This is my passion," she says simply, adding that before reaching retirement age she thought of work as a way to support her growing habit. And, no, she can't tell you how much she's spent over the years. "I don't want to know," she adds.